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One of the main activities of my NGO (GARPE-ONG) is the production and sale of moringa powder as a nutritional supplement. Moringa provides a substantial source of vitamins and protein to its consumers. These nutritional properties make moringa an excellent addition to anyone’s diet, however, children and pregnant women are among our primary targeted consumers, for these groups have the most to gain from the added vitamins obtained through moringa consumption. Also, being that women are the principal food preparers, targeting them in moringa education makes it more likely that the whole family will partake in its consumption.

The leaves on our plantation are both harvested and transformed into powder by a women’s group in the nearby village of Bougnakou and the finished powder product is sold by the NGO itself. In the past the women’s group was able do the necessary drying of the leaves in their own homes but recently their homes have begun to fill with more people and they no longer have the space. As a result, over the past year my NGO’s production of moringa powder has been very limited and occasionally even come to a standstill. While their work with moringa has always been just one of several of their income generating activities one result of the reduced moringa powder production is that the women in the group have either had to take a decrease in their income or search for other activities to make up for the loss. With the funds from a GAD small projects grant we would build a hut on the plantation for use in drying the moringa leaves. Once built the drying hut would provide us the necessary space to continue our production without the restraints imposed by limited drying options.

Dates of Project: Construction to begin as soon as funds are available with a projected completion time of approximately 2 weeks. Use of the hut would start immediately as leaves are currently available and would continue indefinitely. There is a period of a couple of months throughout the year when leaf availability is almost zero however the hut would be in use for the majority of the year.Number of People Involved: 1 male NGO president, 15 women from the group, an estimated 100 female clients and their familiesBudget:

Community Contribution
• Land donated by local authorities
• Cost of labor, 10.000 CFA, to be paid for by funds from GARPE-ONG, labor to be performed by a local carpenter
• Cost of half a box of nails, 2.000CFA, to be paid by GARPE-ONG
• Lumber obtained onsite, work performed by the president of NGO

Item

Number

Cost

Pack of tin roofing (20 sheets)

1

48.000 CFA

Box of nails

½

2.000 CFA

Total Cost

50.000 CFA

Amount Requested: 50.000 CFA

Comments

GAD Coordinator: This sounds like a great project that responds to a clear need in the community. I am glad that the community and the NGO are also providing in-kind and cash resources. My only question is who will be responsible for upkeep and maintenance? I recommend funding.GAD Finance: This sounds like an awesome project that will really help the community. I agree with you, Liz. Recommend funding provided Christine responds to the question.GAD Specialist: I agree. This is the perfect example of a well-written proposal with maximum community contribution. Recommend funding if she can answer the question

GAD Coordinator UPDATE: tried to call her repeatedly; her phone’s either dead or she doesn’t get service in village. I’ll email her asking the question and approving the project. Left the check in her mailbox.

Closing Report

Brief Project Description:

GSP funds were used to construct a drying hut for moringa leaves. The GSP funds were supplemental with contributions from the NGO. Moringa leaves can be dried and ground into a powder which is then consumed as a nutritional supplement to obtain extra vitamins, minerals and protein. The hut was constructed on the site of our moringa plantation and so far hut has been put to use to make at least 300 bags of moringa powder.

Dates of Project: On-going project starting Sept. 2009Number of People Involved:
- men between the ages of 30 and 50, includes the NGO president, sellers of fresh leaves and buyers of powder
- 8 women between the ages of 25 and 55, includes leaf harvesters and sellers
- an estimated 100 consumers of moringa powder, includes women and children

Goals of Project: To restart and increase the NGO’s moringa powder production Thus providing income to the women’s group members through the sale of their harvested leaves and making a nutritional supplement available for sale to local women.Strengths of Project: The strengths were the location of the hut and the construction itself. The hut is conveniently located on the plantation where the NGO president currently lives. The construction was very well built, the hut is in excellent working condition and seems like it will last a long time.Challenges of Project: The main challenge is obtaining fresh leaves to use in the drying hut. Obviously we dry the leaves grown on the plantation itself but in order to maximize the usage of the hut we also require a supply of fresh leaves from outside. Currently we rely on people selling their leaves bringing to us. The problem is that the NGO president’s motorcycle is having mechanical problems. But once those are taken care of the plan is for him to go to individual sellers to purchase the leaves thus increasing our supply.

Budget:

Community Contribution
- Land donated by local authorities
- Cost of labor, 10.000 CFA, to be paid for by funds from GARPE-ONG, labor to be performed by a local carpenter
- Cost of half a box of nails, 2.000CFA, to be paid by GARPE-ONG
- Lumber obtained onsite, work performed by the president of NGO